Under the Kansas Board of Regents‘ brave new social media policy, the faculty and staff of Kansas universities must make sure that their speech is harmonious, loyal, and conducive to discipline. So, the Kansas Board of Regents’ Committee for Harmony, Loyalty and Discipline is here to help you monitor speech. Our staff artist, Comrade Warner, has created these four handy visual aids — all designed to be printed as 24″ x 36″ posters. These come to you under Creative Commons: so, please print, make posters, put on t-shirts, remix, distribute.

Debbie Nuss Said,

The images, the talking devil, would make killer social media icons, as well. I may have to do that if I get tired of the CHLD logo. Though I’m having a hard time imagining myself getting tired of the CHLD logo at the moment.

Debbie Gordon Said,

Hi Phil,
Wondering what you think about this in light of KBOR’s social media policy? Would the student’s speech come in for KBOR’s “discipline, sanction, and termination?” (I say “their, because I imagine that “the CEO” can at least in theory function as a cover for what they want to do to whoever, whenever they want to do it). Would it depend on whether KBOR didn’t like the professor based on what the student charged? I’m asking, because I suspect that the primary target of KBOR’s policy is the faculty. The staff are second down the list. Students are last, simply because their “revenue” now funds the “operation” of the Kansas system. We’re not in one of those states that has recognized that maybe there are negative consequences to cutting higher education and thus have restored some taxes to help pay for it.

Debbie: If the student were also an employee of the university in question, then the KBOR’s social media policy could be applied to the student’s speech. If the student were not an employee, then the KBOR’s social media policy would not apply.

However, as you say, the KBOR (like members of the legislature and the governor) have to pretend to care about students. Since the legislature keeps cutting money from education (at all levels), the students are footing more and more of the bill. One does not wish to alienate one’s consumer base (a.k.a. the students).

That said, the plan to redistribute wealth to the wealthiest (thanks, Gov. Brownback) may ultimately alienate the voters who supported these candidates — in which case, there may be a change in policy. Or, it may not alienate those voters. We’ll see in November.

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